L. Macungie man gets prison for pipe bombs

July 12, 2010|By Matt Birkbeck, OF THE MORNING CALL

A Lower Macungie man who police said had nine pipe bombs and other explosives in his home was sentenced Monday to 42 months in prison.

Glenn Thompson, 40, pleaded guilty in April to one count of "possession of unregistered destructive devices." He was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mitchell Goldberg to three years supervised release.

"Three and a half years in jail is not unfair for stockpiling dangerous explosives," said Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gallagher.

Thompson faced up to 10 years in prison after police in October 2009 conducted a drug raid on his home at 5540 Lower Macungie Road and seized the pipe bombs, a Molotov cocktail, six carbon dioxide cartridge devices, bomb-making materials and 1 pound of marijuana.

According to court documents:

Thompson's court-appointed attorney, David M. Kozlow, argued that Thompson ignited the bombs for play in a nearby cornfield and did not intend to injure anyone. Instead, Kozlow said the bombs were Thompson's attempt at a "misguided science project." Kozlow also said that the unused bombs were left in a barn, not Thompson's home.

Thompson had longstanding issues with drugs, particularly marijuana and methamphetamine, and spent time in several detox centers and treatment programs, Kozlow said in a sentencing memorandum filed last week. Thompson also suffered from a bipolar disorder and depression, and had only a ninth-grade education, the records say.

Thompson also escaped paying fines of up to $250,000 after Kozlow argued Thompson was deeply in debt and had no income to pay.

Three others, William Metterhauser, 59, his son Trevor Metterhauser, 25, and Rosetta E. Heydt, 52, were also arrested in the October 2009 raid and were charged with possession and intent to sell drugs.